Cheverus’ Nathaniel Lapoint dives to make a catch during the Stags’ 5-3 home win over Bonny Eagle last week.

Waynflete’s Emily Wagg, left, and Sophie Sangster play defense during the Flyers’ 13-3 loss at Cape Elizabeth last week.

The final regular season push is underway and local teams remain in the thick of things.

Here’s a look back at an eventful week and a glimpse at what’s to come as the month of May dwindles.

Baseball

A sensational pitching effort stole headlines on the baseball diamond last week.

Friday afternoon at Hadlock Field, Portland’s Donnie Tocci didn’t allow a hit against Cheverus and when Billy Barnard singled in the bottom of the seventh to score Griffin Buckley, who had doubled, the Bulldogs had a dramatic 1-0 victory. Tocci walked just one batter and struck out five and was helped by two clutch defensive plays, Barnard’s over-the-shoulder catch in the second inning and Ben Sawyer’s diving put-out at first base in the seventh. Portland had previously lost at home to Windham, 5-1. Saturday, the Bulldogs blanked host Bonny Eagle, 6-0, in a makeup game. Brian Riley threw a four-hit shutout and Jake Loranger had two hits. Portland (6-5 and fifth in the Class A South Heal Points standings at press time) hosted Massabesic Tuesday, welcomes Biddeford Wednesday, visits Marshwood Thursday, welcomes Scarborough Monday and battles Deering in the finale Tuesday of next week.

Cheverus was 7-4 and fourth in the region after a 5-3 home win over Bonny Eagle and a 1-0 loss at Portland. In the victory, Chris Cimino had two hits and leftfielder Nathaniel Lapoint made a game-saving diving catch, which resulted in a double play.

“You live for those plays,” said Lapoint. “You get sometimes one, two balls a season like that so you have to go for it.”

“We have to make plays like that to win,” Stags coach Mac McKew said. “We’re not the ‘Bronx Bombers’ or anything like that offensively. We’ve got to pitch well and make the big plays when you need them.”

Jack Mullen was the hard-luck loser against the Bulldogs, retiring 16 straight hitters in one stretch. Cheverus was home with Windham Monday and hosted Falmouth Tuesday. The Stags visit undefeated South Portland Thursday (see theforecaster.net for game story), welcome Deering Saturday, then close the regular season at Westbrook Tuesday of next week.

Deering fell to 2-10 and 14th in Class A South (only 12 teams qualify for the playoffs) after losses last week at Windham (5-1), at home to Sanford (11-0, in five-innings) and at home to South Portland (2-1, in eight-innings). Tre Fletcher had two hits and Bennett Berg had the RBI in the loss to the Eagles. Against the Red Riots, Fletcher struck out 15, but wound up with a no-decision and Berg again had the RBI. The Rams were at Biddeford Tuesday, host Westbrook Thursday, play at Cheverus Saturday, then close versus Portland Tuesday of next week.

In Class C South, the Waynflete/North Yarmouth Academy co-op team fell to 2-7 and 10th in the Heals (10 teams make the playoffs in the region) following losses last week to visiting Buckfield (4-2) and at Richmond (7-6). Against the Bobcats, Luke Josephson hit a two-run double and Anders Jonsson added two hits. Waynflete/NYA went to Old Orchard Beach Monday, visits Traip Academy Friday, hosts Old Orchard Beach Saturday and closes the regular season Wednesday of next week versus Sacopee Valley.

Softball

The Cheverus/NYA co-op softball team improved to 7-4 after wins last week at Kennebunk (11-9) and at home over Gorham (10-1). Alex Hammond homered twice, Sydney Plummer had two hits and two RBI and Mackenzie Turner earned the win and struck out 10 in the victory over Gorham. The Stags (seventh in the Class A South Heals at press time) hosted Marshwood Monday and went to Massabesic Tuesday, play at Portland Wednesday (see theforecaster.net for game story), host Noble Friday and finish the regular season at home versus Deering Tuesday of next week.

Portland was 4-7 and 13th in Class A South (only 12 teams make the playoffs) following a 5-4 home loss to Westbrook, a 12-0 (six-inning) loss at Thornton Academy and a 15-3 (five-inning) victory over Deering. Grace Stacey had three hits and drove in a run in the loss to the Blue Blazes. In the win, Halloran Chase doubled, tripled and drove in two runs, Caroline Lerch hit a two-run double and Jill Joyce, Laini Legere and Mackenzie Bryant had two hits apiece. The Bulldogs were at Windham Monday and hosted Sanford Tuesday, welcome Cheverus/NYA Wednesday, host Biddeford Thursday, then close at Bonny Eagle Friday.

Deering got in the win column last week for the first time since 2017, edging visiting Falmouth, 6-5, in nine-innings to snap a 37-game skid. Mackenzie O’Donnell earned the victory in relief and had the game-winning hit. Liz Drelich doubled and had three singles. The Rams also lost last week at Gorham (16-4, in six-innings), at Marshwood (13-3) and to Portland (15-3, in five-innings). O’Donnell had two hits against Gorham. O’Donnell had two more hits against the Hawks and Rebekah Dunn hit a two-run home run. Deering (1-10 and 16th in Class A South) hosted Kennebunk Monday and went to South Portland Tuesday, visits Noble Wednesday, welcomes Massabesic Friday and closes at Cheverus/NYA Tuesday of next week.

Boys’ lacrosse

Waynflete’s boys’ lacrosse team improved to 5-2 last Tuesday with a 16-10 win at Freeport. Oliver Burdick scored four times and Miles Lipton added three goals. The Flyers were scheduled to play at Cony Saturday, but that game was postponed due to weather. Waynflete (second in the Class C Heals at press time) hosted Lake Region Tuesday, welcomes Cheverus Friday, plays host to York Tuesday of next week and closes the regular season May 31 at Yarmouth.

In Class A North, Portland improved to 7-1 and fifth after a 15-6 home win over Massabesic. Samuel Gerber, Grant Jacobson and Cyrus MacCachran all had four goals. The Bulldogs host Biddeford Wednesday, welcome Windham Friday (see theforecaster.net for game story), visit Westbrook May 29, then close at Noble May 31.

Cheverus was 1-7 and eighth in Class A North following a 19-1 loss at defending Class A champion Thornton Academy. The Stags welcome Sanford Wednesday, play at Waynflete Friday, visit Deering May 29 and close at home versus South Portland May 31.

Deering fell to 1-8 and ninth in Class A North after a 13-1 setback at Falmouth and a 5-4 home loss to Mt. Ararat. The Rams host Scarborough Friday, welcome Cheverus May 29 and close at Thornton Academy May 31.

Girls’ lacrosse

Portland’s girls’ lacrosse team took a six-game win streak into the week. Last week, the Bulldogs handled visiting Noble (14-7) and Cony (19-2) to improve to 6-2. Annika More and Isabella More both scored four times in the win over the Knights. Against the Rams, Annika More had four goals, while Isabella More, Chloe Kilbride and Hazel Praught all scored three times. Portland (fifth in the Class A North Heals at press time) was home with Westbrook Tuesday, goes to Cheverus Thursday, plays at Bonny Eagle Monday, then closes the regular season May 29 at home versus Deering.

Cheverus was 4-2 and sixth in Class A North at press time after an 11-8 loss at undefeated Windham and a 16-5 victory at Sanford. Riley O’Mara had three goals against the Eagles. In the win, O’Mara, Bella Booth, Aisling Flaherty and Zoe Mazur all scored three times. The Stags hosted defending Class A champion Falmouth in a makeup game Monday, welcomed Deering Tuesday, hosts Portland Thursday, goes to York Saturday, hosts Marshwood Tuesday of next week and closes at South Portland May 30.

Deering fell to 0-8 and seventh in Class A North after a 15-8 loss at Westbrook and a 17-7 home setback to NYA. Kiaya Gatchell had four goals against the Blue Blazes. The Rams were at Cheverus Tuesday, host Biddeford Thursday, welcome Sanford Tuesday of next week, then close at Portland May 29.

In Class B, Waynflete began the week 3-5 and 12th (only 10 teams make the playoffs) after a 6-5 overtime home win over York and a 13-3 setback at defending Class B state champion Cape Elizabeth. Emily Wagg had two goals and Marady Parr scored the winner (off an assist from Jesse Connors) against the Wildcats. In the loss to the Capers, Emi Boedeker scored twice.

“What I take away from a game like this is that we played a really good team and our defense can do nothing but get better when you play a team like that with an offense that’s so fast and moves the ball so quickly,” Flyers coach Cathie Connors said, after the setback.

Waynflete went to defending Class C champion Lake Region Tuesday, hosts Freeport Thursday, welcomes St. Dom’s Tuesday of next week, then closes at Yarmouth May 31.

Outdoor track

Last Monday, Cheverus hosted city rivals Deering, Portland and South Portland in an outdoor track meet, which also included Waynflete.

Deering’s girls placed first, while Cheverus was third, Portland fourth and Waynflete fifth.

In the boys’ meet, won by South Portland, Cheverus was runner-up, Deering placed third and Portland finished fourth.

City schools then took part in the regular season-ending Cumberland County Championship meet in South Portland.

In the girls’ meet, won by Gorham, Deering was third, Cheverus fourth, Portland eighth and Waynflete 10th.

Scarborough was first on the boys’ side, while Deering finished fifth, Cheverus sixth and Portland ninth.

The SMAA championship meet will be held Saturday in Falmouth.

State meets are Saturday, June 1.

Tennis

The team tennis regular season was coming to a close at press time, while the singles tournament will be held Friday, Saturday and Monday in Lewiston.

Waynflete’s Thorne Kieffer will be the No. 4 seed in the boys’ singles tournament, while Cheverus’ Aidan Treutel will be ranked ninth.

Waynflete’s Morgan Warner is seeded sixth and Cheverus’ Anastasia Kapothanasis is ranked seventh in the girls’ field.

Cheverus’ girls’ team made it nine straight wins to start the season after downing host Kennebunk (3-2) and visiting Deering (5-0) last week. The Stags then fell to 9-1 with a 3-2 home loss to Scarborough. Cheverus (second to defending champion Falmouth in the Class A South Heals at press time) went to Falmouth Monday and closed at home versus Windham Tuesday.

Cheverus’ boys improved to 8-2 and fourth in Class A South after wins at Deering (3-2) and Scarborough (5-0). The Stags hosted defending Class A champion Falmouth Monday, then closed at Windham Tuesday.

Deering’s boys were 6-4 and fifth in Class A South heading into home matches versus Biddeford and Massabesic to close the regular season. The Rams were coming off losses to Cheverus (3-2) and Falmouth (4-1).

Deering’s girls were 2-8 and 10th in Class A South after a 3-2 home win over Bonny Eagle and 5-0 losses at Cheverus and Falmouth. The Rams closed with matches at Biddeford and Massabesic.

Portland’s girls took a 5-3 record into the week before closing with home matches versus South Portland and Westbrook and a match at Thornton Academy. The Bulldogs (eighth in Class A South) lost, 3-2, at Gorham last week. 

Portland’s boys improved to 5-4 and 10th in Class A South after home wins last week over Scarborough (4-1) and Gorham (3-2). The Bulldogs were at South Portland Monday, visited Westbrook Tuesday and host Thornton Academy in the finale Wednesday.

Eleven-time defending Class C boys’ champion Waynflete improved to 8-2 after wins last week at Greely (3-2) and at home over St. Dom’s (5-0). The Flyers (third in the Class C South Heals) were at Cape Elizabeth Monday and closed at home versus Yarmouth Tuesday.

The Waynflete girls were 5-5 and fifth in Class C South following a 4-1 win at NYA and a 3-2 home win over St. Dom’s. The Flyers hosted Yarmouth Monday and finished at Yarmouth Tuesday.

The team tennis tournament begins Tuesday of next week with the preliminary round on the courts of the higher seeds.

Press Herald staff writer Steve Craig contributed to this story.

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @foresports.